Q: I’m a closeted fashion fiend, and I’m dying to slip into some cute ballet or pointy toed flats. However, I’m not sure what kind of pants I need to wear with them. I’d like to dress down the flats with jeans, but what kinds/colors/shapes of jeans are acceptable to wear with them? Do they all need to be tighter and tapered? Or can I wear slightly bagger jeans with it and not look ridiculous? Please help!
A: You can definitely wear jeans with flats. And no, the jeans don’t need to be skinny and tapered. A wide trouser jean, in our opinion, looks just as good with flats–and it’s 10 times more figure flattering.
If you want to play it safe, all you have to do is match the formality of the flat with the formality of the pant.
Wide trouser jeans (and work pants) look particularly sharp worn with a pair of pointy flats. And, we might add, a pair of dark rinse wide trouser jeans and pointy flats are the foundation of a perfect Casual Friday look. The more casual ballet flat is especially fetching with a pair of capri pants, a dress, or a skirt. But it’s perfectly acceptable–even encouraged–to ballet flats them with full length pants as well.
Pictured: Wardrobe Wide Leg Stretch Denim Pants | $68 at Nordstrom.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on April 19th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
Q: How do I keep my shirt wrinkle-free while driving to work?
A: We hate the look of a wrinkled shirt too–and have three suggestions for you:
Wear a wrinkle-resistant shirt. Try wearing wrinkle-resistant shirts, which are chemically treated to keep wrinkles at bay. We like Brooks Brothers’ non-iron broadcloth shirts (pictured at left).
Take it off. Keep it on a hanger in the back of the car, and put on the shirt once you get to work.
Keep a hand steamer handy. Duck into the bathroom and freshen up your look in a snap with a portable steamer, such as this handheld model from Conair.
Pictured: Non-Iron Broadcloth Ground Stripe Forward Point Dress Shirt | $75 at Brooks Brothers.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on April 18th, 2007 in Men's, Q&A, Women's |
A fellow Omiru reader, Christina, needs your help.
Christina asks: What should I wear to a humid New York City summer internship in a design-related field?
Now we have our ideas about what Christina should wear, but the beauty about style is that there’s no one right answer. And we believe that together, we can come up with a better answer for Christina than we at Omiru could by ourselves.
So, tell us, what do you think Christina should wear this summer to her design internship? You can leave your advice in the comments for this post.
Oh, and we’ll sweeten the deal and throw in a treat from Omiru’s giveaway closet for the person who gives Christina the best advice by Sunday, April 22.
Posted by Trisha on April 17th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
We asked: Are Ruffles In or Out?
You said: Ruffles are In. A 59% majority voted this feminine trend In.
Omiru’s take: We’re with you on ruffles–they’re a nice feminine counterpart to the menswear as womenswear trend. And for a decorative trend, they’re rather functional. You can soften up a work shirt with a row or two of ruffles. And they’re great for adding volume to a flat chest. Plus, they can turn an ordinary dress into something dramatic.
Style tip? Match the size of the ruffle to your proportions. If you’re petite, choose smaller ruffles.
Next Question:
We’re conflicted about suspenders as a fashion trend. But what do you
think? Tell us, are Suspenders In, or are they Out? Cast your vote
on the sidebar!
Pictured: Isaac Mizrahi Taffeta Ruffle Party Dress $49.99 at Target.
Posted by Trisha on April 16th, 2007 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Q: I am getting married, and my mother keeps picking out dresses for herself that are beige and shapeless. How can I get her to see that she can look good in a little colour and a dress with some style to it?
A: Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! The only hard and fast rules about Mother of the Bride dresses (and Mother of the Groom dresses, for that matter) is that they should:
(1) Be a noticeably different color from the bride’s dress, so steer clear of white, cream, and ivory.
(2) Not be too flashy. Too much exposed skin, or overly shiny fabric can upstage the bride.
Beyond that, the sky’s the limit, so your mom doesn’t have to limit herself to shapeless–or even beige–dresses. Here’s three dress suggestions that will help your mom look her best on your wedding day:
JS Collections Off Shoulder Shirred Taffeta Gown | $218 at Nordstrom (Pictured)
Off-the-shoulder neckline for drama and a ruched bodice to minimize a tummy.
Niteline Strapless Bustier Gown with Bolero Jacket | $508 at Nordstrom
A criscrossed pintucked bodice with boning for support, plus a fitted bolero jacket.
Sean Collection Beaded Dress with Jacket | $278 at Nordstrom
V-necked floor length dress with bolero jacket, available in both regular and petite sizes.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on April 13th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
Q: Are there any cute and formal shawls for cocktail dresses? I’m looking for something easy to wear when it’s a little cold outside.
A: Shawls are a great way to cover up an evening gown or cocktail dress without overdressing with a (stuffy) long wool coat. Here are a few of our favorite shawls for evening:
Anne Klein Sequin Georgette Wrap | $48 at Nordstrom
Square sequins dress this wrap up.
Kashmere Khaki Ombre Cashmere-Blend Shawl | $79 at Bluefly (Pictured)
The ombre color gradations make this wrap a standout.
Nordstrom Tissue-Weight Cashmere Wrap | $99 at Nordstrom
Lightweight cashmere with a fringed, tasseled edge.
Giorgio Armani Border-Striped Linen Wrap | $215 at Saks
The border detail is classic, but we’re not as fond of the price.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on April 12th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
Q: Where can I find khakis and jeans for guys who have very thick thighs? My husband played football and has a 44-46" waist & 30" inseam, but his thighs can not fit into many brands. Also, for some reason he thinks pleats look best on his body, but I have always heard pleats make you look bigger. Help!
A: Good instincts–pleated pants do make you look bigger. Flat front pants are visually slimming, while pleated pants create more volume exactly where you don’t want it.
For men with thick thighs, we have 3 recommendations:
1. Look for "Relaxed Fit" styles, which have added room in the seat and the thigh.
2. For a slimming look, try dark colored pants, a wide leg, and a slightly lower rise.
3. As for where to buy the pants, try brands like Dockers, Eddie Bauer, and St. John’s Bay (at JC Penney).
Pictured: Premium Never-Ironâ„¢ Cotton Khaki - Flat Front | $70 at Dockers.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on April 11th, 2007 in Men's, Q&A |
Q: I love how my new Paige wide leg jeans fit, but is it strange if it looks like my pants gobbled up my feet? I’m a petite 5′2" and even with my pointiest of pointy toed shoes, my feet still disappear. What do I wear on top to complement my small frame and seemingly missing feet?
A: Yes, it is a bit strange to have pant legs so long (and wide) that your feet seem to disappear. Even though the model in the picture is wearing the pants at near-floor length, you don’t have to. Pant legs that drag–or even appear to drag–on the ground are not only unattractive but are also just plain annoying for you. We would recommend taking the pant hem up another notch to help the visual balance between the pants and your shoes.
As for what to wear on top, balance once again provides the answer. When you’re wearing something "big" on the bottom, your best bet is to wear something "small" (e.g. close-fitting) on top. The resulting small over big silhouette is a fashion classic.
Since you’re petite, we have an extra piece of advice: choose tops that aren’t overly long. Why? The illusion of height is created when your legs look long in proportion to your body. You can make create this illusion by visually raising your waistline with shorter tops.
Pictured: Paige Premium Hillhurst Trouser in Celestial | $198 at Revolve Clothing (at left) and BCBGirls ‘Allyiah’ Stretch Poplin Shirt | $68 at Nordstrom (at right).
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on April 10th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
We asked: Are Skinny Jeans In or Out?
You said: On the way out. Only 44% voted skinny jeans In, and the remaining 56% majority voted it either Out or On the Way Out.
Omiru’s take: For a trend that poses so many figure flattery problems, skinny jeans have had amazing staying power–even if it has been on the "On the Way Out" side of the trend cycle for the majority of that time. A year ago, in April 2006, 53% of you voted skinny jeans Out or On the Way Out. With statistics like that, we would expect this trend to be fully Out a year later. Not so.
If you do decide to wear Skinny Jeans, our style tip for you today is Grey Denim. It’s a departure from the standard blue jeans, and it’s perfect for Spring.
As for us, we’ve moved on to Wide Trouser Jeans.
Next Question: Our friends at The It Lists reported on Ruffles as a new IT trend for Spring. But what do you think?
Tell us, are Ruffles In, or are they Out? Cast your vote on
the sidebar!
Pictured: Citizens of Humanity Paley Ankle Skinny Leg Jean| $163 at Shopbop.
Posted by Trisha on April 9th, 2007 in Trend, Trend Predictives, What's In and What's Out, Women |
Q: How do I choose a high quality handbag for everyday use?
Omiru
is pleased to bring you the answer to this style question from Ken Williams, the designer behind the
classic handbag line Retrodelic.
A: Look for a bag that…
1. You absolutely love. After all, you are going to wear it every day.
2. Can carry all of the necessary things for everyday use–your keys, wallet, etc.
3. Is made of high quality leather that will age well.
4. Represents an extension of your personality. Note that this may not necessarily be the current "It" Bag.
5. Doesn’t break the bank. Make sure you get good value, quality and style for your money.
Pictured: Limited Nurse Handbag | $240 at Retrodelic.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
Posted by Trisha on April 6th, 2007 in Q&A, Women's |
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